Below are letters that have been sent to legislators voicing the AHBA's reasons for opposing AB 1634.
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AMERICAN HERDING BREED ASSOCIATION
1548 Victoria Way, Pacifica CA 94044 / 650-355-9563 / pacifica19@aol.com
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May 8, 2007
Assembly Committee on Appropriations Assembly Member Mark Leno, Chair P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94229-0013
Re: AB 1634 (Levine) California Healthy Pets Act – OPPOSE – As Amended April 24, 2007
Dear Mr. Leno and Committee Members:
The American Herding Breed Association opposes the proposed Bill AB 1634 as amended 4/30/2007, and requests inclusion in the listed opposition for the Bill Analysis in the Appropriations Committee.
The use of dogs as an essential tool in livestock management dates back to early Spanish California and continues to the present day. Statistics from the 2002 census provided by the California State Department of Agriculture give the number of farms with cattle as 17,379 and the number of farms with sheep as 4,009. Livestock and poultry sales generated $6,584,451,000 income in California. Most of these farms use dogs for herding and protecting their livestock. The majority of herding dogs and livestock guardian dogs are not registered dogs, nor do their owners participate in “sporting” events which are the only exceptions provided in AB 1634. Even where carefully bred lines have resulted in identifiable breeds such as the McNab (a breed originating in California), the dogs may not be registered. AB 1634 would result in the termination of many lines of carefully selected dogs that provide a significant economic asset to the state.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture found the use of livestock guardian dogs important enough to conduct a study evaluating the effectiveness of various breeds. This study found that 82% of the producers found the dogs an asset and 73% experienced estimated average annual savings ranging from $180 to $14,487. If only one California farm in ten uses a dog this is a minimum savings of $312,822.00 for cattle ranches and an additional minimum of $72,162.00 for sheep ranches.
A stockdog replaces one or more men on either horseback or using a vehicle. At a low estimate of $23,000 per year for the cost of additional personnel, and the use of herding dogs on half the sheep ranches in the state, this is a minimum value of $46,103,500 annually. Cattle ranches would add an additional $99,929,250 annually based on one cattle ranch in four using just one dog. The value of working dogs to the California economy can be further clarified by examining the statistics from the highly regarded annual Red Bluff Bull, Gelding, and Stock Dog Sale, where this year the stock dogs sold for an average price of $7,170 each, the high-selling dog bringing $23,000.
In addition, there is a large number of “hobby” or sport herding individuals who stimulate the state’s economy by buying or renting use of land, livestock and equipment, traveling in the state, supporting the livelihood of stock dog trainers, and staying in hotels and utilizing restaurants. Income to the state is generated in the form of gas tax, motel tax, income tax, tourism dollars, etc. In California, a number of
organizations including the American Herding Breed Association, Australian Shepherd Club of America,
Redwood Empire Sheepdog Association, United States Border Collie Handler’s Association, American Kennel Club, and others, offer stockdog trialing programs, averaging hundreds of such events in a year. Countless smaller events, trials, and training clinics or seminars, not under the formal auspices of the above organizations, are sponsored annually by California sheepdog and cattledog clubs.
In California during 2006, the American Herding Breed Association (AHBA) sanctioned approximately 35 events, most of these being two-day events. At these events in California there were between 1,200 and 1,600 trial runs, on sheep, cattle, goats, ducks, and geese. At a low estimate of $150 per person per trial with twenty exhibitors, over $100,000 would be generated in travel and food costs alone. If a more realistic estimate of $600 per dog is used in calculation (entry fees, travel costs), with approximately 50 dogs per event, this generates yet another $400,000 in individuals’ expenses which contribute to the state economy. Numbers from other event-sponsoring organizations are similar or greater. The contribution from Australian Shepherd Club of America events is calculated at $542,000, and from U.S. Border Collie Handlers’ Association trials, more than $383,000.
Also of importance are the vast savings in property and lives by such operations as the use of sheep or goat herds to graze brush in hillside areas in order to reduce the risk of wildfire, the only ecological means of reducing this threat. Where vegetation has been reduced by grazing, fires are more readily controlled or prevented. Dogs are a vital element in this management practice,
Stockdogs and livestock guardian dogs contribute to the California economy in many ways. Their worth is immeasurable to California agriculture, forestry, and public safety. Many, if not most, of these extremely valuable dogs would not qualify for an “intact permit” under AB 1634. In addition, the various types of competitive herding events provide another large contribution to the state’s economy in the form of salaries, training fees, trial entries, motel tax, gasoline tax, food, supplies, and gear that are required for handlers and dogs alike. (Further details are available upon request.) The passage of AB 1634 would greatly decrease these contributions to the state of California and would spell the end of a way of life and livelihood for many.
The American Herding Breed Association respectfully requests that AB 1634 be withdrawn or defeated.
Very truly yours,
Linda Rorem Board Member American Herding Breed Association
cc: Chuck Nicol, Committee Consultant Chris Ryan, Republican Fiscal Office
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS -- MEMBERS
CHAIR Mark Leno (D) San Francisco State Capitol, Room 2114 Sacramento, CA 94249-0013 Phone: 916-319-2013 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2113 District Fax: 415-557-3015 Assemblymember.leno@assembly.ca.gov
VICE CHAIR Mimi Walters (R) Laguna Niguel State Capitol, Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 94249-0072 Phone: 916-319-2073 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2173 District Fax: 949-457-7305 Assemblymember.walters@assembly.ca.gov
Anna M. Caballero (D) Salinas State Capitol, Room 3132 Sacramento, CA 94249-0028 Phone: 916-319-2028 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2128 District Fax: 831-759-2961 Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov
Mike Davis (D) Los Angeles State Capitol, Room 2160 Sacramento, CA 94249-0048 Phone: 916-319-2048 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2148 District Fax: 213-744-2122 Assemblymember.Davis@assembly.ca.gov
Mark DeSaulnier (D) Martinez State Capitol, Room 4162 Sacramento, CA 94249-0011 Phone: 916-319-2011 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2111 District Fax: 925-372-0934 Assemblymember.DeSaulnier@assembly.ca.gov
Bill Emmerson (R) Redlands State Capitol Office, Room 4158 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-319-2063 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2163 District Fax: 909-466-9892 Assemblymember.emmerson@assembly.ca.gov
Jared Huffman (D) San Rafael State Capitol, Room 4139 Sacramento, CA 94249-0006 Phone: 916-319-2006 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2106 District Fax: 415-479-2123 Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Betty Karnette (D) Long Beach State Capitol, Room 2136 Sacramento, CA 94249-0054 Phone: 916-319-2054 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2154 District Fax: 562-997-0799 Assemblymember.Karnette@assembly.ca.gov
Paul Krekorian (D) Glendale State Capitol, Room 5135 Sacramento, CA 94249-0054 Phone: 916-319-2043 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2143 District Fax: 818-240-4632
Assemblymember.Krekorian@assembly.ca.gov
Doug La Malfa (R) Biggs State Capitol, Room 4164 Sacramento, CA 94249-0002 Phone: 916-319-2002 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2102 District Fax: 530-223-6737 Assemblymember.lamalfa@assembly.ca.gov
Ted W. Lieu (D) Torrance State Capitol, Room 4016 Sacramento, CA 94249-0053 Phone: 916-319-2053 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2153 District Fax: 310-615-3520 Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.gov
Fiona Ma (D) San Francisco State Capitol, Room 2176 Sacramento, CA 94249-0012 Phone: 916-319-2012 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2112 District Fax: 415-557-1178 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov
Alan Nakanishi (R) Lodi State Capitol, Room 5175 Sacramento, CA 94249-0010 Phone: 916-319-2010 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2110 District Fax: 209-333-5333 Assemblymember.nakanishi@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Pedro Nava (D) Santa Barbara State Capitol, Room 2148 Sacramento, CA 94249-0035 Phone: 916-319-2035 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2135 District Fax: 805-564-1651 Assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov
Sharon Runner (R) Lancaster State Capitol, Room 5158 Sacramento, CA 94249-0036 Phone: 916-319-2036 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2136 District Fax: 661-723-6307 Assemblywoman.Runner@assembly.ca.gov
Jose Solorio (D) Santa Ana State Capitol, Room 2196 Sacramento, CA 94249-0069 Phone: 916-319-2069 Capitol Fax: 916-319-2169 District Fax: 714-939-8986 Assemblymember.solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Appropriations Committee ATTN: Chuck Nicol, Committee Consultant State Capitol, Room 2114 Sacramento, California 95814 Fax: 916-319-2181
Assembly Republican Fiscal Office Attention: Chris Ryan State Capitol. Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax (916) 319-3560
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AMERICAN HERDING BREED ASSOCIATION
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April 2, 2007
Assembly Member Mike Eng, Chair Assembly Committee on Business and Professions 1020 N Street, Room 124 Sacramento, CA 95814
Attention: Tracy Rhine, Committee Consultant, Fax No. 916-319-3306
Re: AB 1634. (Levine) California Healthy Pets Act: -OPPOSE-
Dear Mr. Eng and Committee Members:
The American Herding Breed Association opposes AB 1634 as introduced and as revised 3/27/2007 (mandatory spay/neuter of dogs and cats) and requests inclusion in the listed opposition for the Bill Analysis in your committee.
Our organization is concerned about the harm this bill would do to the use and breeding of stockdogs in California. It would require that most working stockdogs in California be sterilized. These dogs are vital for the functioning of the livestock industry in the state. Good working dogs take care and effort to produce, and the breeders who can fulfill this need are relatively few in number to begin with. This bill would be a devastating blow to their efforts.
The revised version now being set forth lists various exemptions, but includes no guarantee that such exemptions will be provided. Instead, requirements and enforcement are to be left to the “sole discretion” of local animal control authorities. This introduces an element of inconsistency and of lack of accountability that is very troubling. Not only will requirements vary from locale to locale and in many cases be subject to whim, but it will be possible for animal rights activists (who have an agenda of no use of animals by humans, even as pets) to acquire positions of local influence, where they will be able to deny permits at will or raise the fees to high rates that will be difficult to meet.
It appears, in fact, that the bill provides no exemption for working stock dogs at all, both herding dogs and livestock guardian dogs. There may be an exemption for dogs involved in sport herding for titles, but even this includes such unrealistic requirements as the dog competing by four months of age (much too young), and requires that the dog be registered with a pure breed registry recognized by a local authority. Yet many working stockdogs, while carefully bred for their jobs, are registered with specialized registries that may not be known to local authorities more concerned with pet dogs, or the dogs are not registered at all, or are even purpose-bred crossbreeds (a standard practice in the cattle, sheep, and horse industries).
Assembly Member Mike Eng, Chair March 31, 2007 Page 2
Responsible breeders of quality dogs would be irreparably harmed, while puppy mills would continue to be allowed to send large numbers of poorly-bred animals into the state to be sold at pet stores. The dogs of good breeders are not the dogs that end up in shelters. They are carefully produced and selected dogs for which there is a good demand. This bill in effect supports puppy mills, by removing responsible breeders as a source of pets as well as of working dogs.
Experience has shown that mandatory spay/neuter laws have not been effective in reducing numbers of animals in shelters. Moreover, such laws lead to higher risks for the public, as people seeking to keep their pets intact simply drop out of the system, causing an increase in the number of unlicensed dogs and dogs not vaccinated for rabies.
The American Herding Breed Association respectfully asks that AB 1634 be withdrawn or defeated.
Very truly yours,
Linda Rorem Board Member American Herding Breed Association cc:
Mike Eng, Chair State Capitol - Room 6025 Sacramento, CA 94249-0049 FAX (916) 319-2149
Bill Emmerson, Vice Chair State Capitol - Room 4158 Sacramento, CA 94249-0063 FAX (916) 319-2163
Karen Bass State Capitol - Room 319 Sacramento, CA 94249-0047 FAX (916) 319-2147
Wilmer Carter State Capitol - Room 2117 Sacramento, CA 94249-0062 FAX (916) 319-2162
Mary Hayashi State Capitol - Room 2188 Sacramento, CA 94249-0018 FAX (916) 319-2118
Edward Hernandez State Capitol - Room 4112 Sacramento, CA 94249-0057 FAX (916) 319-2157
Shirley Horten State Capitol - Room 2174 Sacramento, CA 94249-0078 FAX (916) 319-2178
Bill Maze State Capitol - Room 5160 Sacramento, CA 94249-0034 FAX (916) 319-2134
Curren Price State Capitol - Room 2179 Sacramento, CA 94249-0036 FAX (916) 319-2136
Alberto Torrico State Capitol - Room 3160 Sacramento, CA 94249-0020 FAX (916) 319-2120